calm starry night
breath taking
his kiss

smoldering afternoon
bike abandoned on the sidewalk
I won’t ride again

warm sunny day
cards, blankets, good vibes
at Fairview park

sleeping amongst the stars
feeling terrible
never again

two avocados
after one night
none

looking in the mirror
changing clothes
sharing laughs and smiles

4 years gone by
how time flies
Who am I?

man she was stunning
stepping out every night
I will not be dragged down

silent, dark apartment
at least I had
the last word

in a crowded car
Grandpa tells his stories
the radio's off

lining up the silverware
neat and tidy
the table is ready

hold your breath
under water
count how long

deserted island
screaming dolphins
in the fog far away

she gets pretty for the night
waiting for him to arrive
he never comes by

they say call
if I need anything
. . . until i need anything

the water is cool
unlocking the fence
something only he can do

cornfields
stretch to infinity
peace, for now

crooked feet
can't walk
people stare

Summer road
Greyhound
love songs

at the beach
holding hands to take on
the tide as one

water
hot sand
the long ride home

a gleaming saber
the boy battles
enemy branches

hotel room at night
the movie's paused
a familiar face

stay up late
at sleepovers
. . . regret

his heart shatters
next door
friends share a laugh

the day of the dead
candy corn socks
matching yellow slickers

they just want
relations
they don’t want relationships

200 dollars
100 dollars
no dollars

hunger strikes
—haiku immersion

fresh cut smell of grass
warm sun kissed skin
meditation

MVP to the team
to herself
worthless

midnight
relocation
ants forage the crumbs

the missing stone
adjoined to a
lonesome heart

masquerade ball
a meal made fine with wine
no masks

the façade
of an aristocrat
adorned with a tag

seagulls on the wall
transparent on the screen
"it's a tumor," they say

moving day
mom yelling
get your lazy ass up

spring break
Florida bound
let the fun begin

mom is frantically yelling
about the dirty house
company coming

relocation
new beginnings
from the windy city to hot ‘lanta

warm vanilla in the kitchen
only one
but don’t tell

across the graveyard
my aunt leads
Duncans, not Storms

silver heart
dangling
the chain broke

wolves gnaw at the page
girls in red run away
new passion comes alive

stormy weather
of words
between two planets

magnetic fields
clash together
who will prevail?

sparkling lips and splotches of pink
mirror in hand
she giggles

do you love me
how much
ask Jesus

mom smells
whiskey and cigarettes
it’s been six years

tiptoeing in nightgowns
the burning fireplace
he hasn’t come yet

6 o'clock alarm
time to stay in line
too cold for this shit

jumping so high I can touch the sky
the rusty metal creaks
back down to earth

dinosaurs roam the yard
laying their eggs
turned to rocks

cold winter night
mountains of snow
snowball fight on the quad

I could die tomorrow
but who cares, right?
I'm just another statistic

a tiny whine
from under the tree
the perfect gift

small, plastic Casio
the white key sounds a note
the first of millions

history:
a love skipped my father
and landed on me

lost in the woods
giggling children
lead the way

desert night
the falcon
passes under the stars

I am not the
one
it was him

climbing a tree
the pine sap sticking to my hands
how high can we go

tramping through the trees
three generations
Shiloh

christmas morning
opening gifts
homemade cinnamon rolls

winter comes
hot drinks are served
a pleasant chat

pink and purple hearts
the smell of crayons
for me

shallow existence
I look through your soul’s window
and laugh
and laugh